GAME OVER: RESETTING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VIDEO GAME AND GUN MANUFACTURERS

June 2013: Video game manufacturers, aiming to produce realistic virtual experiences featuring authentic firearms, have often included many of the actual manufacturers’ brands in their games. As a result, many of the large video game makers have entered into licensing or product placement deals with gun manufacturers.

The Gun Truth Project joined Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Every Child Matters to launch a report, "Game Over: Resetting the Relationship Between Video Game and Gun Manufacturers," exposing the commercial relationship between video game publishers and gun manufacturers. Partners also launched a campaign at the E3 Expo calling on companies to end future relationships with the gun industry.

Campaign partners are continuing to urge video game publishers and the trade organization representing the industry to change its policies.

May 2013: The facts are clear: guns and alcohol do not mix. Firearm experts and organizations, including the National Rifle Association, have publicly stressed how consuming alcohol and shooting firearms can have deadly consequences.

However, the online marketplace, LivingSocial, has offered a number of deals throughout the country that combine excursions to shooting ranges with drinking events. Not only does this encourage reckless behavior, but it also plays right into the gun industry’s marketing tactics, encouraging potential customers to pick up a firearm

In response, we partnered with CREDO, MomsRising and Corporate Accountability International to launch DyingSocial, which called on LivingSocial to halt all deals featuring guns and gun ranges, especially packages that combine shooting and drinking.

The campaign featured the release of a 28-page report, “Deals to Die For: LivingSocial’s Deadly Deals that Mix Guns and Alcohol.” It also included a number of online petitions generated by partners, a social media campaign, online ads and a street team canvassing outside of LivingSocial’s Washington offices and event space. The various campaign activities led to a number of media mentions in DC and tech news outlets.

We are still working actively with partners and key stakeholders to urge LivingSocial to change its policies.